Lady Bracknell, a character in Oscar Wilde’s comedy, The Importance of Being Earnest,  is an elderly Victorian aristocrat with her corset pulled so tight it affects her brain. Learning that her daughter’s suitor is an orphan, she responds with disdain rather than sympathy.  To l

Some have argued the question of abortion rights should be left to the states as the U. S. Constitution contains no language that speaks directly to it.  The Constitution does speak to the right an individual has to pursue happiness, however, and fundamental to that right is the free

When does life begin?  That’s the question roiling the abortion debate, and one which society must decide.  Unfortunately, the  decision will be arbitrary, with no more science behind it than the one ascribed to setting the voting age.  Arguably, life thrives in

On the surface, women made impressive inroads during the 2018 elections but were these advances window dressing? Is there an undertow to be considered that works against these achievements, particularly among white women who remain loyal to Donald Trump despite his sexist views?  Tru

Around three o’clock each afternoon at my retirement center, a gaggle of residents gathers around the coffee machine to discuss, for an hour, the state of the world.  I don’t usually join them because it’s the time I exercise.  Sometimes, I pause long enough to grab a

As one who supports a woman’s right to choose, I listen to speculations about whether or not the U. S. Supreme Court will overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that granted a woman the right to an abortion.  Some pundits are complacent.  They argue that after 45 years, Roe v. Wade

Though male legislators in state after state in America continue to write laws restricting a woman’s right to end a pregnancy, some of our sex continue to insist gender has no place when considering a candidate for public office.   Can they really be so complacent? Inequality lies

The United States judiciary is one of the oldest and most distinguished in the world, often used as a model by other countries. (“Withholding Judgment,” José Alberto Cabranes, 9/10 Foreign Affairs, pg. 133.) Yet, as writer José Alberto Cabranes reminds us, its powers are limited